Hari Budha Magar

Hari Budha Magar is a British veteran who lost both of his legs above the knee while serving in Afghanistan. Driven to change societal views of what is possible for people with a disability, Hari made history when he triumphantly stood atop the world’s highest summit, Mount Everest at 8,849m on 19th May 2023. As a speaker, Hari inspires audiences to challenge perceptions on disability and ‘climb their own mountains’ in the face of adversity.

Hari joined the British Army via the Royal Gurkha Rifles in 1999 at 19-years-old, where he served for 15 years across five continents in roles such as Combat Medic, Sniper, and Covert Surveillance. In 2010, he lost both of his legs to an IED (improvised explosive device) explosion. A man of true grit and determination, he didn’t let this life-changing incident stop him. Following his recovery, Hari has taken part in a range of physical activities, including golf, kayaking, skiing, skydiving, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball, and rock climbing.

It was in 2017 that Hari scaled his first mountain, Mera Peak (6,476m), which made him the first double-knee amputee to reach heights of over 6,000m. In 2018, he came together with other climbers and disability organisations to overturn the ban on disabled people climbing Mount Everest at the Supreme Court in Nepal, which was a success. From there, he was one of the first double-knee amputees to ascend Mont Blanc (4,810m) with prosthetic legs, to trek to Everest Base Camp with Genium X3s (prosthetic legs), and to climb Mount Toubkal (4,176m).

In 2023 came his most significant accomplishment to date – he conquered Mount Everest (8,849m), earning himself a place in the Guiness Book of World Records. Showing no signs of slowing down, he was most recently the first double-knee amputee to climb Denali (6,190m). Hari has made it his mission to break down barriers and show others that with resilience and a positive mindset, anything can be achieved. Hari, who was awarded an MBE (Member of the British Empire) in 2024, is a highly sought-after speaker for his optimistic spirit and sharing his stories of going from hardship to triumph, guaranteed to leave audiences feeling like they can take on the world.